Control system



Patented Nov. 5, 1935 PATENT OFFICE CONTROL SYSTEM Peter W. Forsberg, Schenectady, to General Electric Company,

New York N. Y., asalgnor a corporation of Application December 22, 1933, Serial No. 703,566

7 Claims.

My invention relates to control systems for traction drives, and has for an object the provision of a simple and reliable control system wherein acceleration and deceleration of the motors can be controlled without the losses inci dent to the use of starting resistors.

Heretofore it has been proposed to divide the trolley voltage across different points of a dynamotor and to accelerate the driving motors by varying the voltage applied to the driving motors from the dynamotor. In one system of this general type it has been necessary for satisfactory operation to control both the main circuits and also the excitation on the dynamotor. In other systems of this type, it is only necessary to control the excitation of the dynamowr but for satisfactory operation compound motors have been used.

In accordance with the present invention in one form thereof, I provide series traction motors arranged to be accelerated by varying the motor voltage in accordance with the division of voltage across the dynamotor. In order to obtain regeneration at any point, or accelerating notch of the controller handle, it is only necessary to move the controller handle towards its original position. More specifically, I arrange the operating handle of the controller to cooperate with a lost motion connection so that whenever the operating handle is moved backwardly the lost motion connection closes a contactor to complete a regenerative braking circuit which includes a resistance and a generator excited by the motor current.

For a more complete understanding of my inventlon, reference should. now be had to the drawing wherein I have shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 a controller system embodying my invention, whileFigs. 2 to 8, inclusive, illustrate in simplified form the connections completed for the several positions of the controller shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 1, I have shown my invention in one form as applied to the control of a traction motor l0 provided with a series field winding II. The motor In and its series field winding II are connected in series with the armature of an exciter l2 and a series field winding I3 provided on the exciter l2. The acceleratlon of the traction motor I0 is controlled by means of a controller l5 having seven accelerating positions and notches and a dynamotor I! provided with armatures 20, 2| and 22 and field windings 23, 24 and 25. The exciter I2 is also provided with a separately excited field winding 28 which is connected in the armature 22 of the dynamotor l8.

It will be observed that the controller is provided with an operating handle 30 arranged to be operated in a clockwise direction for operating the controller from its first to its seventh position. When'the operating handle 30 is operated in a counterclockwise direction it is arranged to close the contacts 3| to establish a braking circuit on the motor. This is accomplished by providing a lost motion connection. As shown, this connection comprises a Y-shaped member 32 secured to the operating shaft 33 of the controller. The armature 35 for the operating handle 30 moves between the arms of the controller so that a certain amount of lost motion is thereby obtained.

In the operation of my invention it will be assumed that the trolley 38 is energized and that the operating handle 30 is rotated in a clockwise :0 direction to move the controller to position I or the first accelerating notch. 'The connections completed are illustrated in Fig. 2. The motor Ill and the exciter or auxiliary generator l2.are connected in closed circuit relation with each 26 other.

It will be understood that the division of the trolley ground voltage across the armatures 20, 2| and-22 of the dynamotor may be predetermined by properly designing the dynamotor. For

, the purpose of simplifying the description it will be assumed that the trolley ground voltage is divided so that 175 volts appears across the armature 20 of the dynamotor and that 275 and 100 volts appear, respectively, across the dynamotor armatures 2| and-22. It will also be assumed that theauxiliary generator or exciter I2 can generate a maximum of 50 volts.

As soon, therefore, as the controller is moved into the first notch the generator I! will have a voltage of approximately 30 to 35 volts due to the excitation provided by its field winding 28. Motoring current, therefore, fiows through the field winding l3 and the armature of the motor I 0 and the exciting voltage is gradually increased to approximately volts. It will. therefore, be seen that on the first notch smooth acceleration is obtained due to the gradual increase of motor current. so

If it is desired to decelerate on the first notch by braking, it is only necessary to operate the handle 30 in a counter-clockwise direction to close the contacts 3|. A by-pass circuit is thereby completed through a resistor 40 for the motor field winding ll. Consequently, the motor ll operating as a generator causes the deceleration of the car. The rate oi deceleration is gradually decreased because the motor current flow- 5 ihg through the exciter field winding ll reduces the excitation of the auxiliary generator or exciter l2,

Continuing with the operation of my invention, it will be understood that after the connections of Fig. 2 are completed a relatively large flow 01 current through the motor i0 and the auxiliary generator I! causes the auxiliary generator to build up its voltage to its upper limit of 50 volts. However, as the speed of the motor ll increases, its counter-electromotive iorce reduces the motor current causing a corresponding decrease in the voltage 01 the generator l2. It now the controller is operated by the handle 30 to its second accelerating notch the voltage applied to the motor l0 and the auxiliary generator I! is increased to 100 volts corresponding to the voltage across the dynamotor armature 22 plus an additional voltage that is being generated by armature G. The torque of the motor ll inci- 5 dent to the application of increased voltage increases a predetermined amount and is thereafter gradually but quickly increased due to the rise in voltage on the auxiliary generator II. This rise in voltage caused by the rise in the motoring current flowing through the auxiliary generator field winding Isis delayed somewhat due to the inductance of the field winding It. In each or the acceleratingnotches or positions the auxiliary generator I! functions in the same manner to "soften" the steps during motoring.

The acceleration of the motor 'III is completed by operating the controller I! through the accelerating positions 8 to I, inclusive. In the third accelerating position, as shown in Fig. 4, the mo- 4 tor is connected across the dynamotor armature 20 thereby increasing the voltage. applied to the motor from 100 volts to 175 volts.

In the fourth accelerating position, as shown in 5, themotor is connected across the dynamotor armature 2 I. to increase the voltage applied to the motor from 175 to 2'75 volts.

In the fii'th accelerating position the motor is connected across the dynamotor armatures II and 22 to increase the voltage applied to the motor II from 275 to 3'15 volts.

In -the sixth accelerating position the motor II is connected across the dynamotor armatures ill and 2| to increase the voltage applied to the motor i'rom 375 to 450 volts.

In the last accelerating position the motor is connected directly to the trolley voltage of 550 volts. In each of these accelerating steps it will be understood that the exciter or auxiliary generator 1! adds its voltage to the motor circuit. For example, in the last accelerating notch I the full speed of the motor is reached when the exciter voltage of 50 volts is generated so that the voltage across the motor i0 is 600 volts. It will be remembered that for the first acoel- 5 erating notch the manner of obtaining regenerative braking was described. Similarly, in each 0! the accelerating notches regenerative braking may be obtained at any time by rotating the handle 30 of the controller in a counterclockwise direction to close the contacts 3 I This feature is an important part of the present invention. By use of the dynamotor it the losses incident to the use of starting resistors are avoided, the motor is accelerated, and by varying the connections across the dynamotor armatures the auxiliary generator I! produces a much smoother acceleration and deceleration between successive positions of the controller than if it were not provided. A series traction motor is used so that the desirable characteristics of the series motor 5 are obtained and regenerative braking can be obtained at any time on the series traction motor by reason of the lost motion connection onthe controller handle 30.

While I have shown a particular embodiment 10 of -my invention, it will be understood, 0! course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true 18 spirit and scope 0! my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 01 the United States, is:

1. In combination, a motor provided with a series field winding, a controller operable through 20 a plurality-of positions for controlling the energization of said motor, a generator permanently connected in series circuit relation with said motor, operating means for said controller, a lostv motion connection between said operating means to and said controller, and means including saidlost motion connection for completing a shunt circuit from said generator to said motor field winding to regeneratively brake said motor.

2. In combination, a traction motor provided I with a series field winding, a generator having a series field winding and a separately excited field winding, connections for connecting the armature of said motor in series circuit relation with said generator, a controller operable through 8 a plurality of positions for controlling the ener-r. gization or said motor, an operating handle for said controller, a lost motion connection between said handle and said'controller, and means including said lost motion connection and said gen- 40 v erator ior regeneratively braking said motor with said controller occupying any one of its plurality oi positions. r

3. In combination, a traction motor provided with a series field winding. a generator having 45 series and separately excited field windings, connections for connecting the armature of said motor in series circuit relation with said generator,

a controller operable through a plurality of positions for controlling the energization of said mo-- 50 tor, an operating handle for said controller, a lost motion connection between said operating handle and said controller, and means including said lost motion connection for completing a I connection across the armature or said generator and said series field winding of said motor thereby to produce regenerative braking of said motor.

4. A motor control system, comprising a source of supply, a motor provided with series field wind- 60 ings, a dynamotor provided with a plurality of armatures for dividing the voltage of said source of supply across the armatures of said dynamotor,

a generator normally connected in series circuit relation with said motor, a separately excited field 65 winding for said generator, a controller for connecting said motor to said dynamotor so as to vary progressively'the voltage applied to said motor and thereby to control its acceleration, and

a series accumulative field winding for said generator for controlling the voltage of said generator in accordance with the magnitude of said motor current.

5. A motor control system comprising a source of supply, a motor provided with a series field dynamotortoincreasepvelytbespeedo! said motor. an operating handle for said controller, a lost motion connection between said operating handle and said controller, a generator normally connected in series circuit relation with said motor, series and separately excited field windings fox-said generator, and means including said lost motion connection for connecting said generator in closed circuit relation with said series field winding of said motor ior producing at any time regenerative braking of said motor. I

6. A motor control system comprising a source of supply. a motor provided with a series field winding, a dynamotor provided with a plurality oi armatures for dividing the voltage oi! said source 01' supply across its armatures, a generator driven by said dynamotor and normally connected in series circuit relation with said motor, a series field winding and a. separately excited fieldwinding for said generator, a controller operable through a plurality of positions for connecting'saidmotoracrossthearmaturesoisaid dynamotor to'vary progressively the voltage applied to said motor, and means operable at any position of said controller for said generator to said motor field winding for regeneratively braking said motor.

7. In combination, a source of supply, a series traction motor, a generator connected in series circuit relation with said motor and said source or supply. a series fleld winding and a separately 10 excited field winding for said generator, a coni troiier operable through a plurality of positions for progressively increasing the voltage applied to said motor and to said generator from 'said source of supply, connections completed by the operation of said controller to its first pomtion for connecting said generator in closed circuit relation with said motor, said generator operating on said first position as the sole current supply to said motor to produce a gradual increase of motor current and acceleration, and means for connecting said generator in circuit with said series motor so as to regenerativeiy said motor, 7 5

PETER W. 1'0. 

